Wendell Dean “Buz” Vardeman died at the age of 97 on March 25, 2025, at his home in Lubbock County, Texas. Funeral services and interment were at Resthaven Memorial Park in Lubbock on Monday, March 31.
He was born November 18, 1927, in San Saba County, Texas, to Bessie and Kellie Vardeman on the family farm in the Bethel community. He graduated from Richland Springs High School in 1946. On December 21, 1947, he married Joyce Pearce of Richland Springs, daughter of Irva and Raymond Pearce. He and Joyce were sweethearts since 7th grade. They moved near the Woodrow community in Lubbock County on January 1, 1948, to begin cotton farming.
Buz Vardeman began inventing labor saving machinery at age 8, and was driving a school bus at age 14. A natural-born engineer, he made many innovations and major inventions in machinery adopted by John Deere in the tractors, sprayers and harvesters used by cotton growers. He was a recognized leader in the industry, and visitors from all over the world come to Vardeman Farms. He will be long remembered for his exceptional ability to visualize solutions to problems, and his determination to build things with superior craftsmanship.
His beloved Joyce died in 2013. He is survived by his loving family: his children: Dean, Keith and Holly; their spouses; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A 2019 Texas Country Reporter television feature segment on him, entitled “Tractor Engineer,” can be found on YouTube.
Memorial contributions can be made to the FiberMax Center for Discovery, agriculturehistory.org.